The 2023 SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest is an initiative designed to engage community focused youth-led groups in a process of developing projects that respond to a need in the community, with an emphasis on mental health related projects. Participating youth groups from the Greater Boston area commit to a 6-week learning experience that puts them in the driver’s seat of positive change, while providing the guidance, monetary resources, and social capital needed to make a real impact.

Youth groups will be paired with a Pitch Coach, who are working professionals volunteering to mentor a youth group throughout the project proposal development phase. The program will then culminate in the Pitch Contest, an in-person event where a panel of judges will award grant funds for project implementation to selected groups. SCI will award $10,000 worth of grants to a minimum of 7 youth-led groups who will then have until November 2023 to complete their respective projects.

SCI is looking to engage adult volunteers in the following opportunities:

1. Pitch Coach - Professional: A working professional with experience in Project Management, Sales, Business, Finance, or Community Development, that is willing & able to commit to at least one (1) hour/week for six (6) weeks in February and March, 2023. Primary coaching needs will be in project planning, presentation development and public speaking. The timing of volunteer hours is flexible and will be coordinated between coaches & youth groups with SCI support. Need 10 volunteers.

2. Pitch Coach - University Student: A current university/college student either undergraduate or graduate level that is willing & able to commit to at least one (1) hour/week for six (6) weeks in February and March, 2023. Primary support needs will be in presentation development and public speaking. The timing of volunteer hours is flexible and will be coordinated between coaches & youth groups with SCI support. Need 10 volunteers.

3. Workshop Instructor: A working professional that can lead a 30 minute virtual workshop in February or March, on a skill needed for successful pitches such as public speaking, storytelling, slideshow presentations, team building skills, managing budgets and reporting. Need 3 volunteers.

Interested in getting involved as a volunteer coach? Contact SCI Project Management Consultant, Polly Mendoza, at pmendoza@socialcapitalinc.org, or go to: https://socialcapitalinc.org/ygpc